Best Snook Lures for Florida Fishing
Florida’s shores boast a remarkable variety of saltwater and freshwater species. However, if there’s one species that most anglers would consider their most prized catch, it would typically be snook.
These fish are considered a true test of skill and patience, as they’re popular for their powerful runs and aggressive acrobatics, all the while being well distributed across the state and delicious when prepared correctly.
However, to snag one of these powerful fighters, you need the right tools for the job, and one of these tools is the lure. This guide will walk you through the types of lures that you can use for the job, including top choices for various conditions and baiting techniques. Let’s dive right in!
Why You Should Pick Artificial Lures Over Live Bait
There are some situations where live bait would be a great choice to catch snook. For instance, during the outgoing tide where visibility is quite low, the scent of live bait can attract fish from larger distances.
In that case, you should go for snook’s favorites, such as pinfish, shrimp, and mullets. However, lures are generally the better option to go along with while trying to catch snook in Florida. Here are some of the main reasons why:
Higher Overall Convenience
One of the primary reasons to go with artificial lures over live baits is how much easier they are to work with. You can easily transport and store them anywhere you want, and you don’t have to worry about keeping them alive.
Also, since you’ll keep them on you, you don’t have to look for a bait shop on your way to your fishing spot or keep the supply in mind.
Durable Lures Can Last You Quite a While
While live bait is highly effective at catching various types of fish, they’re usually used up after one attempt or damaged beyond use.
On the other hand, artificial lures can suffer from occasional wear and tear but you should expect them to last for quite a while and catch plenty of large snooks with a single lure.
Cost-Effective Choice
In most cases, snook lures would cost you more than regular live bait, especially if you go for premium options or reputable brands.
However, as we previously established, the higher the quality of the lure, the longer it should last you, and the more effective it will be while catching fish. Since you won’t have to buy them every time you go on a fishing trip, they’ll end up saving you more money in the long run.
Comes in a Variety of Types and Sizes
Lastly, artificial lures come in a wide variety of shapes, sizes, and colors, allowing you to mimic different baitfish that snook prey on.
You can also adjust your retrieve speed and technique to create different actions that might attract more snook your way. This gives you an incredible range of versatility and allows you to try different methods to catch snook and have more fun in the process!
What Are the Different Types of Snook Lures for Florida Fishing?
Speaking of lure types, understanding the different types and options you have will make it much easier to pick the ideal snook lure for you. In this section, we’ll take a closer look at some of the best types of baits to consider while casting for snook.
1. Jerk Baits
These hard-bodied lures mimic baitfish like minnows or shad. They have a distinctive diving action caused by erratic jerks of the rod tip.
To use them, you need to give the rod a sharp jerk, followed by a pause, and then you should slowly reel in the slack. This creates an erratic darting baitfish motion underwater that never fails to entice snook to attack.
The success of these lures is all about the execution of the technique, which is why they work quite well when you’re fishing in shallower water with moderate vegetation and cover, as snook tends to lie in wait for prey in these areas.
2. Soft Plastics
These are incredibly versatile lures made of highly flexible and rubbery plastic, which creates highly erratic motion underwater that snooks would immediately pounce on.
Soft plastic baits can be rigged with a weighted jig head while fishing in deeper water but a weedless rig would work quite well while catching snooks in shallow water, as they’re easier to navigate around structures and covers.
One thing to note here is that soft plastic lures come in a remarkable range of shapes, sizes, and subtypes.
In the case of snooks, your top choice would be paddle tail baits. These have flat, paddle-like tails that create a swimming action underwater to mimic baitfish. They’re quite forgiving for beginners since you can retrieve them either steadily or with a jigging motion.
3. Topwater Lures
Topwater lures work mainly on the surface of the water by mimicking fleeing baitfish on the surface, hence the name.
Like soft plastic lures, these ones come in various types. However, prop baits are among the most effective ones when it comes to snook fishing.
These lures have a spinning propeller at the front that churns and irritates the water to entice snook when you retrieve them, and they work quite well with both steady as well as stop-and-go motions.
Other types like pencil poppers and walking baits can be effective, as they make rattling noise while skipping across the water to attract snook.
4. Bucktail Jigs
Bucktail jigs are a classic type of snook lure that works all year round but excel in early spring when snook are looking for relatively larger catches.
These lures have a bucktail jig head with a soft body, but unlike the previous options, this one works best in deeper water with a slightly heavier current.
This makes them perfect for snook fishing near inlets, bridges, and some beaches. They also cast with a bit of distance when compared to other types of similar size.
Top 9 Snook Lures to Consider While Fishing in Florida
Now that you know more about the different types of lures, here’s a brief overview of the best options you can use to catch snook in Florida!
1. Rapala X-Rap Extreme Action Slashbait
Anglers frequently cite the Rapala X-Rap Extreme Action Slashbait as one of the most reliable choices for snook fishing.
This one is a type of jerk bait that features a long and slender body with a distinctive wobble and jerk motion to mimic mullets, pilchards, and other baitfish.
One of the unique aspects of the X-Rap is that you can cast and retrieve it in a wide range of ways, so you can adapt your technique according to snook behaviors in the area you’re fishing in and the water conditions.
Since this lure has a hard body, you should expect it to last you for multiple catches while maintaining its durability.
The lure also comes in a huge variety of colors and sizes, ranging from 1 1/2 inches to 4 3/4 inches. The optimal colors for catching snook in Florida waters would be lighter ones.
2. Berkeley Gulp Jerk Shad
The Berkley Gulp Jerk Shad is an excellent soft plastic lure designed to entice snook strikes with a wide range of standout features that make it a worthy addition to this list.
For starters, the lure has an incredibly realistic appearance with a detailed design and a pearl-white color that resembles the natural shimmer of baitfish.
The soft body also creates a highly effective fleeting motion with a quick glide to trigger the snook’s instinct to attack struggling baitfish.
The lure is also infused with a proprietary formula to emit a strong scent trail while retrieving the lure, allowing you to attract snook from greater distances for a more successful catch.
The Jerk Shad comes with a pre-rigged construction that makes it very easy to set up with different types of jig heads.
Since it’s soft-bodied, it doesn’t last as long as the X-Rap. Yet, it works incredibly well and comes in larger sizes, including 5 and 6 inches.
3. Yo-Zuri Hydro Pencil
The Yo-Zuri Hydro Pencil is another popular choice for snook fishing, particularly when targeting them around seawalls, docks, or mangrove areas where they forage for mullets.
The large profile of the lure, combined with its light color, makes it ideal for low visibility settings, such as fishing in slightly murky water or at dusk or dawn.
This lure is a topwater plug, which makes it perfect for those who use the walk-the-dog technique while fishing.
The plug lure is built with a tough ABS resin body and treble hooks, which allows it to withstand aggressive snook strikes.
4. Rapala WildEye Shad
The Rapala WildEye Shad is an excellent alternative to the Gulp Jerk Shad. This one has a wider array of colors that would attract snook in a variety of settings and comes in different sizes ranging from 2 to 9 inches.
Additionally, the WildEye Shad is highly affordable, which is an asset while using soft-body lures that don’t last quite as long.
5. Berkeley Johnson Silver Minnow
The Johnson Silver Minnow is a classic saltwater lure that has proven effective for snook, particularly in vast, shallow areas.
This versatile spoon offers several advantages for snook fishing. For starters, its single, weed-guarded hook allows anglers to cast and retrieve through heavy cover without frequent snags.
Additionally, the silver and gold plating provides a bright flash that attracts snook from a long distance while retaining that fish-enticing sheen for a long period.
Moreover, its design makes it perfect for long casts, which is ideal if you’re trying to cover more water. This also makes it easy to use with a cast-and-retrieve technique, so it can work for you whether you’re experienced or trying out snook fishing for the first time.
6. Rapala Skitter Prop
The Skitter Prop is another excellent creation from Rapala. This one is a topwater lure designed to create a disturbance and attract snook with minimal effort from the angler, so it’s a great pick for those who are still honing their technique.
The lure is made from a balsa wood body along with a stainless steel propeller. This gives the lure excellent realism while mimicking the fleeting motion of baitfish and works perfectly with a simple jerk-and-pause retrieve.
7. Bass Assassin Sea Shad
Don’t let the name of this bait trick you, as it’s an excellent option when it comes to catching snook!
The Bass Assassin Sea Shad is a paddle tail lure with a solid body and excellent erratic motion underwater. The white colors, combined with its motion, make it a spot-on choice while trying to catch snook.
Additionally, this one features a scent-producing P-Enzyme formula that attracts fish from a long range, increasing your chances of landing a successful catch.
8. Berkeley Gulp Shrimp
The Berkley Gulp Shrimp offers a realistic alternative to live bait for snook fishing while offering more durability and easy rigging for various techniques.
Unlike other options that focus on fleeting baitfish to attract snook, this one draws snooks through its uncanny resemblance to real shrimp, complete with its natural shrimp scent that expands the lure’s effective range considerably.
9. SPRO Prime Bucktail Jig
Last but not least, if you’re looking for a versatile lure designed to target snook in deeper water with current, you should consider the SPRO Prime Bucktail Jig.
This one boasts a unique design that creates a lifelike swimming action as it glides or is jigged through the water.
The SPRO Prime Bucktail Jig comes in a wide range of sizes and colors, allowing you to tailor your selection to specific water conditions and snook sizes.
The jigs are also equipped with durable and sharp Gamakatsu hooks, which allow for highly effective hook penetration and landing power.
Final Thoughts
Snook fishing in Florida is a challenge, but with the right lure on the end of your line, it can be a highly rewarding experience!
While the choices we presented above are all excellent options, for both beginners and experienced anglers alike, the Rapala X-Rap Extreme Action Slashbait stands out for its incredible effectiveness and long-term durability.However, if you’re looking for a highly versatile option that works particularly well on deeper water with currents, you might want to go for the SPRO Prime Bucktail Jig instead.
